Motorized seat belt retractor

Abstract

A motorized seat belt retractor configured to be activated in response to a signal generated by a dangerous state detection device indicating that a vehicle is in a dangerous state. The retractor is configured so that in response to the signal the retractor operates to retract a seat belt webbing prior to a collision thereby restraining an occupant positioned in a seat in the vehicle. The retractor is activated every time a signal indicating that the vehicle is in a dangerous state is received from the detector.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A motorized seat belt retractor configured to be activated in response to a signal generated by a dangerous state detection device indicating that a vehicle is in a dangerous state, the retractor being configured so that in response to the signal the retractor operates to retract a seat belt webbing prior to a collision thereby restraining an occupant positioned in a seat in the vehicle, wherein the retractor includes a motor for retracting the seatbelt and an energy absorbing mechanism that employs a counter electromotive force generated by the motor, and wherein the retractor is configured to be activated every time a signal indicating that the vehicle is in a dangerous state is received from the detection device. 
     
     
       2. The motorized seat belt retractor of  claim 1 , wherein said retractor is configured to release the restraint of the occupant when the detection device determines that the vehicle is no longer in a dangerous state. 
     
     
       3. The motorized seat belt retractor of  claim 1 , wherein said retractor is configured to release the restraint of the occupant when the signal indicating the existence of the dangerous state is absent for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       4. The motorized seat belt retractor of  claim 1 , wherein said dangerous state detection device includes a collision predictive device. 
     
     
       5. The motorized seat belt retractor of  claim 1 , wherein said dangerous state detection device includes a seated state sensor. 
     
     
       6. A system for protecting a passenger seated in a vehicle seat comprising: 
       a sensing unit configured to provide a signal indicating that a collision is imminent;  
       a control circuit operatively connected to the sensing unit;  
       a seat belt device having a seat belt retractor; wherein the retractor is configured to retract a webbing of a seat belt when a control signal from the control circuit is received; and  
       an energy absorbing mechanism for limiting the load on the passenger,  
       wherein the retractor is adapted to maintain the webbing in a retracted state until the sensing unit determines that the collision is no longer imminent, wherein the energy absorbing mechanism is configured to allow the webbing to withdraw from the retractor during the collision, and wherein the retractor is adapted to retract the webbing following the collision to return the passenger to a normal position. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein the retractor includes a motor for retracting the webbing. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the energy absorbing mechanism is adapted to limit the load on the passenger. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the retractor is adapted to maintain the webbing in the retracted state following the occurrence of the collision.